---
title: "Creating and Managing Menu Categories"
url: "https://help.aurapos.com/en/article/creating-and-managing-menu-categories"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2026-03-24T11:29:51.598Z"
---

# Creating and Managing Menu Categories

Before adding items to a menu, Categories must first be created. Categories are used to group menu items in a logical way, making navigation easier for both staff and customers.

[YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/NT0C4RrpSzw)

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### Category Groups

Categories are organized into **Category Groups**, which act as the **top-level structure** for the menu.

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/0eb86ccf-6dbd-47c3-8945-6e7d628d69a0)For example:

-   A **“Mains”** category group might include your main menu categories such burgers and pizzas; alternatively you could create **"Breakfast"** and **"Lunch"** groups.
-   A **“Beverages”** category group might include hot and cold drink categories
-   A **“Sides”** category group might include add-ons, instruction or extras categories.

It is important to note that **Category Groups are primarily used for organization and reporting**. They do **not appear on the POS interface**—only the Categories themselves are visible to users.

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## Creating a New Category

To add a new menu item, an appropriate category must exist. For example, adding a soft drink like a Coke requires a **“Sodas”** category.

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/d820736f-9220-45a8-adbe-3671da003bd0)

To create a category:

-   Click the **New Category** button on the Category group card, or
-   -   Open the **kebab menu** on the relevant Category Group and select **“New Category”**
-   Enter a **Category Name** (e.g. *Sodas*)
-   -   Optionally, assign a **Category Code** (used for internal organization)
-   click **Create**

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/630bbc26-46ae-4ab4-98a0-4ad078e10f2e)

Once created, the new category will appear as a **category card** in the list.

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/4df94472-bfb0-4a40-a659-24bf10c88ad7)

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## Managing Category Options

Each category includes several configurable options that affect both **operations** and **customer experience**.

Access these by opening the category’s **kebab menu** and selecting **Edit Details**.

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/b408643d-33c9-4d3c-8c79-6322df6debb0)

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/e290e27a-338b-4e8f-a970-0e5aad82cf82)

### Category Image

An image can be uploaded to represent the category.  
This is displayed on **self-service kiosks and customer-facing interfaces**, so it should clearly reflect the items within the category.

### Category Description

A short description can be added to provide context. This text appears on **online ordering platforms and kiosks**, and should be clear, informative, and appealing to the customer.

### Category Button Colour

This setting changes how the category appears on the **POS interface**.  
Using distinct colours helps **cashiers quickly identify categories**, improving speed of service.

### Food Preparation Time

The **Food Prep Minutes** field defines the average preparation time for items in the category.

-   Used in **reporting and customer-facing displays**
-   If left blank, the system defaults to the **global preparation time**

### Hidden Categories

Categories can be marked as **Hidden**, which keeps them active but removes them from the POS display.

This is typically used for:

-   **Option list items**
-   **Upsell components**
-   Supporting or backend menu structures not intended for direct selection

After configuring the category, select **Save Category**.

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## Organizing Categories

The category will then appear in the category list. When multiple categories exist, they can be **reordered using drag-and-drop** by grabbing the handle at the end of the card, which determines how they display in both the system and on the POS.

![Image shows the 'Pizzas' category card being dragged above the "burgers and mains" category](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/9e2519e6-778f-4e10-a403-d5d24602d062)